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Mamadi Diakité with the Cavaliers.
THE New York Knicks having signed Mamadi Diakite to a 10 day contract, depending on Fred Katz of The Athletic. Diakité, 27, was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks championship team in 2021. The power forward and center likely won’t play much but will be used as insurance as the Knicks are still dealing with injuries.
Diakité played three matches for the San Antonio Spurs this season, playing just 5.3 minutes per game. He played 22 matches for the Cleveland Cavaliers last year, averaging 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds, shooting 48% from the field.
With the injuries of Mitchell Robinson And Julius Randle, the Knicks are still looking for someone who can help them in the short term. Diakite is the latest discovery.
What Diakité will bring to the Knicks
Due to Robinson’s absence, the New York Knicks are in need of a big body. Taj Gibson That was the option early in the season, but after he signed two 10-day contracts with the Knicks, they should have signed him to a standard contract.
While Diakité doesn’t have much NBA experience in terms of minutes played, he has been in the league every season since 2020. At the very least, he can be someone the Knicks put in a few minutes a night and give to their attackers and centers. a few minutes of rest.
Isaiah Hartenstein talked about having OG Anunobcame back to it and how it made his job easier. Just the fact that Anunoby is back makes life easier for the Knicks because he’s another body to throw out there. Despite Anunoby’s talent, having an additional player capable of playing 30+ minutes might be more helpful than anything else for this depleted Knicks team.
“It was huge,” Hartenstein said. “Just having him back, I think he even makes my job a lot easier on defense, so I can kind of help a little bit more, just knowing that he’s behind me or if he’s on the ball , I know I can turn. [away] and defend different players even 5s easily. So just having him back, I think it makes my life easier. And lets me walk around a little more.
Diakite certainly won’t play Anunoby’s role, but he gives the Knicks another player who has experience and can play a few minutes a night.
Knicks injury update
The latest injury updates for the New York Knicks have all been positive. Anunoby returned to the court after suffering an arm injury, a highly anticipated return for the Knicks’ top defender.
SNY’s Ian Begley reported what the head coach Tom Thibodeau I had something to say about Randle’s return.
“Julius Randle’s conditioning is good,” Thibodeau said, according to Begley. “He shoots, does individual work, it’s very good. He can go 5-0; that sort of thing. Light contact with pads. Randle has not yet been allowed full contact. This is the next step in his rehabilitation following a shoulder dislocation.
As for Robinson, who Diakite is replacing, he runs and jumps but is not making any contact yet, according to Katz.
The Knicks are finally healthy after dealing with injuries over the past couple of months.
Jon Conahan covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Washington Commanders. Since 2019, his sports coverage has appeared on Sports Illustrated, oddschecker, ClutchPoints and Sportskeeda. Learn more about Jon Conahan
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